Search form

Upstream Author: Kevin Smokler

Submitted by AmyAtBooksmith on July 19, 2016 - 12:55pm

New to Upstream: KEVIN SMOKLER for his forthcoming book Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies and the Places they Happened

From the fictional towns of Hill Valley, CA, and Shermer, IL, to the beautiful landscapes of the “Goondocks” in Astoria and the “time of your life” dirty dancing resort still alive and well in Lake Lure, NC, ‘80s teen movies left their mark not just on movie screens and in the hearts of fans, but on the landscape of America itself. Like few other eras in movie history, the ‘80s teen movies has endured and gotten better with time.

Including interviews with actors, writers, and directors of the era, and a Trapper Keeper-full of interesting facts about your favorite 80s movies, Brat Pack America is a must for any fan of The Breakfast Club and Back to the Future, of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink and Dead Poets Society. Smokler went to Goonies Day in Astoria, Oregon, took a Lost Boys tour of Santa Cruz, California. He visited retro arcades, movie theaters and record stores. His exploration of highways and main streets of “Brat Pack America” remind us of why we love the teen movies of the 1980s so much and, three decades later, still do.

The Booksmith has partnered with the Chamber of Commerce in Astoria, Oregon, where The Goonies was filmed, to give you access to even more ‘80s nostalgia goodness. Pre-order Brat Pack America and receive a discount code for $5 off a Goonies plush of your choice from the fine folks over at Old Oregon, valid through October 15th!

Upstream, for the uninitiated, is our ongoing (and ever-growing) effort to partner with local authors to provide an unending supply of signed books available for purchase—without events, lines, or hassle. Order below, put your request in the comments field, and enjoy.

Kevin Smokler is the author of the essay collection Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books you Haven't Touched Since High School (2013) which the Atlantic Wire called "truly enjoyable" and the editor of Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times, A San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book of 2005. His writing on pop culture has appeared in the LA Times, Salon, BuzzFeed, Vulture, the San Francisco Chronicle and on NPR. In 2013, he was BookRiot's first ever Writer in Residence.

He can be found on twitter at @weegee. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, cat and most of MTV’s first year on vinyl.